Process of reducing metals from their ores.



, No. 7u,73a. Patented Oct. 2|, |902. m. numsuauns.

PROCESS OF REDUCING METALS FROM THEIR OBES.

(Application filed July 10, 1900.)

(No Model.)

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE."

MARCUS RUTHENBUR G, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA.

PROCESS OF REDUCING METALS FROM THEIR ORES.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent N o. 71 1,738, datedOctober 21, 1902.

Application filed July 10, 1900. Serial No. 23,129. Specimens.)

To all whom, it may concern:

Be it known that I, MARCUS RUTHENBURG, of Philadelphia, in the State ofPennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements inProcesses of Reducing Metals from their Ores, whereof the following is aspecification, reference being had to the accompanying drawing.

The object of my invention is to provide a process whereby malleableiron or steel may be directly manufactured from comminuted ore,particularly magnetite.

My process consists in providing each particle of a mass of comminutedore with a distinct individual coating of carbonaceous material,subjecting said mass to such preheating that said coating is coked uponand thereby rendered adherent to each particle of the ore, elevating thetemperature of the mass to such a degree that the oxygen of eachparticle combines with its carbonaceous coating and emanates from themass in gaseous form, and finally melting the metallic residue.

As an example of the operation of my in vention I will describe thetreatment of a mass of magnetite, as follows: Amass of the iron oxidspecified in a comminuted condition is placed in any convenientreceptacle, together with carbonaceous materialsuch as coal-tar,lampblack, molasses, or oil-and by heat or agitation each particle ofthe mass is coated with the carbonaceous matter. The subsequenttreatment of the mass may be conveniently effected by an electricfurnace, such as is shown in the accompanying drawing.

In said drawing, A is the furnace, comprising the crucible B, in whichare opposed the electrodes C O of the heating-circuit c 0. Above saidcrucible B and in communication therewith is a hearth D, inclosed by theflue E, leading from the crucible B to the stack F. The hopper Gisarranged to deliver material upon said hearth D, and the screwshaft H isso constructed as to deliver the material from said hearth D to thecrucible B when rotated in the direction of the arrow marked upon thedriving-wheel h.

The mass of comminuted ore, whose individual particles are each providedwith a distinct coating of carbonaceous material, as above described,being delivered upon the hearth D of the furnace A through the hopper Gis preheated by the waste gases from said crucible B until said coatingis coked,

and thereby rendered adherent upon each particle of the ore. Thereuponthe shaft H being rotated the coked mass is fed into the upper part ofthe crucible B, wherein the temperature is such that the oxygen of eachparticle of ore combines with its carbonaceous coating and escapes fromthe mass in gaseous form through the flue E, the mass of ore particlesbeing completely reduced to the metallic state in the zone of thecrucible indicated at b and without being fused. Below the zone I) theheat causes fusion of the reduced particles into the molten metallicresidue X, which during the conduct of the process is limited to aboutthe height indicated by the line b by discharge through the tap-hole 13.

It is to be understood that the principal source of heat in the furnaceabove described is the electric current which passes between theelectrodes 0 O and fuses the interposed mass,which forms a conductor forit, and that the heat to effectthe reduction of the particles in thezone I) is derived from said current and from the combustion of thegases which are liberated during the reduction, the heat required forcoking being derived from the waste gases, which pass through the flue Eover the mass X upon the hearth D.

I prefer to use an electric current as the source of heat in the conductof my process, as above described, for the reason that it may beprecisely varied at the will of the operator, with consequent varianceinthe product. For instance, the oxid may be reduced at a temperatureless than that at which the carbon will combine therewith in theproduction of carbid, and thus malleable iron may be directly produced,or by elevating the temperature various grades of steel may be directlyproduced, the percentage of carbid of iron introduced being of coursepredetermined by the temperature at which reduction is effected.

Although for the reasons stated I prefer to employ apparatus of the formhereinbefore described, I do not desire to limit myself thereto, as itis obvious that various modifications may be made in the apparatusemployed without departing from the essential features of my process.

I claim 1. The herein-described process of reducing iron ores to themetallic state, which is continuous and which consists in coating eachparticle of a mass of comminuted ore with reducing material sufficientto reduce that particle; fixing said coating separately upon therespective particles, by detaining them for a definite time in a regionheated to a determined degree less than reducing temperature; retainingsaid preheated material in granular form and progressing it at adetermined rate into a region heated to reducing temperature; reducingthe ore to the metallic state, without fusing it; progressing thereduced metal in granular form,at reducing temperature, into a region offusing temperature; and, fusing the reduced metal, substantially as setforth.

2. The herein-described continuous process -of reducing magnetic ironoxid to the metallie state, which consists in coating each particle of amass of comminuted ore with reducing material sufficient to reduce thatparticle; fixing said coating separately upon the respective particles,by detaining them for a definite time in a region heated to a determineddegree less than reducing temperature; retaining said preheated materialin granular form and progressing it at a determined rate into a regionheated to reducing temperature; reducing the ore to the metallic state,without fusing it; progressing the reduced metal, in granular form, atreducing temperature, into a region of fusing temperature; and, fusingthe reduced metal, substantially as set forth.

3. Theherein-describedcontinuousprocess of reducing to the metallicstate ores which are conductors of electricity, which consists incoating each particle of a mass of comminuted ore with reducing materialsufficient to reduce that particle; fixing said coating separately uponthe respective particles by detaining them for a definite time in aregion heated to a determined degree, less than reducing temperature;retaining said preheated material in granular form, and, progressing itat a determined rate into a region heated to reducing temperature;reducing the ore to the metallic state, without fusing it; assemblingthe reduced metal in granular form at reducing temperature, to form apath for electric current; and, fusing the reduced metal by an electriccurrent, substantially as set forth.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand this 16th day of April,A. D. 1900.

MARCUS RUTHENBURG. Witnesses:

LILIAN V. MERK, W. G. HAVENS.

